Spatialities of Extractivism & Spaces of Innovation
Katja Werthmann (SFB 1199 & Leipzig U), Thilo Lang (SFB 1199 & IfL) & Lukas Vonnahme (SFB 1199 & IfL)
Biographical Notes
Prof. Dr. Katja Werthmann (SFB 1199 & Institute of African Studies, Leipzig University, Germany)
Katja Werthmann is professor of society, politics, and economics of Africa at the Institute for African Studies (Leipzig U, Germany). As of 2016, she is part of the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1199: “Processes of Spatialization under the Global Condition” and leading the project B6: “Gold Mining and New Regulations of (Sub)National Spaces in Africa”.
Dr. Thilo Lang (SFB 1199 & Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (IfL), Leipzig University, Germany)
Having studied spatial and environmental planning in Kaiserslauten and urban planning in Hamburg, Thilo Lang gained his PhD in Potsdam and Durham. As the head of a department at the Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (IfL), his research interests focus on the production of space and transnational urban and regional development in the context of current processes of socio-spatial polarization and rising disparities across Europe. Further long-term research interests include urban and regional change, shrinking cities and regeneration, as well as peripheralization as a multilevel process. One current focus is on innovation outside of conurbations and alternative local and social economies.
Lukas Vonnahme (SFB 1199 & Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (IfL), Leipzig University, Germany)
Having studied geography in Marburg, Lund and Frankfurt, Lukas Vonnahme joined the Leibniz-Institute for Regional Geography (IfL) in 2014. His research interests include regional economic development, social networks and innovation management. Recently the topics entrepreneurship and startups as well as the ecosystems in which startups rise and grow raised his attention.